The Echo Canyon Trail on Camelback Mountain is quite a climb.  While navigating the mountain I came across narrow, pebbled-filled paths, boulders that I had to literally crawl over, and hundreds of larger rocks where I stepped carefully as I passed over them.  Many challenges warred with the goal of reaching the top: the relentless heat in Phoenix, the weight of the water bottles that absolutely must be carried, and the lack of visual confirmation that any progress was being made. The hike to the summit seemed endless as every thought told me to give up: it’s just too hard, it’s just too far, and I just can’t do this.  Then suddenly it happened, I came to the end of the trail and all that went before me seemed trivial: my perspective changed when I was standing at the top.

Our journey through life is like this.  We have challenges we must face, hardships that slow us down, and times we want to quit.  II Chronicles 15:7 says, “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”  When the path seems endless, keep going.  When you can’t see your way to the other side of the problem, keep going.  When it seems this is too much for one person to handle, keep going.  Philippians 4:13 assures us, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  Even if the mountain before you looks too big for you, press on; you have what it takes to get through this.  Tap into that inner strength that comes directly from God.  And when you reach the top, let go of all those troubles that tried to stop you, and grab onto the amazing place where you’ll be standing.